Method of transporting and utilizing fuel.



J. H. HOADLBY. METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND UTILIZING FUEL. APPLIOATIONIIILED JUNE 2, 1911.

1,039,399. 7 Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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J. H. HOADLBY.

METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND UTILIZING FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1911.

1,039,399. Patented Sept. 24,1912.

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J. H. HOADLEY. METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND UTILIZING FUEL.- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1911.

1,039,399, 9 Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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JOSEPH H. HOADLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

. METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND UTILIZING FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912. Serial No. 630,923.

To all whom it may concern Be'it known that I, Josnrn H. I'IOADLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method of 'lransporting and Utilizing Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel method for conveying or transporting fuel in the form of powdered coal in bunkers and drawing the fuel from the bunkers, conveying it toward, and injecting it into the furnaces.

By my method safety is insured and man ual labor is eliminated.

I have devised different means for conveying my invention into effect; in some vessels the bunkers, or coal compartments, are on the side; in other vessels they are located entirely in the lower hold at the very bottom of the ship. My invention can be applied and adapted to both conditions.

I will proceed to describe my invention more specifically and will employ illustrative drawings to explain the different means which I utilize to consummatesame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a plan view of a portion of a steam ship showing my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line II-II Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is 'a plan view showing a modification of my inven tion where it is applied to ships carrying coal only, or mainly, in the bottom hold. Fig. 4.- is a. vertical section on the line IVIV, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line V-V, Fig. 3. Fig. 6- is a similar section on the line VIVI looking toward the furnaces.

In this drawing 1 represents the hull of a steamship or vessel. In Fig. l is shown a series of bunkers or compartments 2. At 3 I show an opening at the top of the bunkers through which the fuel or ppwdered coal can be introduced; and at t, covers for the said openings, or ports, by means of which the compartments can be tightly sealed so that air cannot pass in, or out, at this point. Any suitable means of sealing may be employed, but it must be effectual in this'respect as the operativeness and efficiency of my invention depends absolutely upon this phase of it being carried into proper effect.

In the form of bunkers shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom is arranged on a slant, as

shown at 5, the inclination being from the outward to an inward line and terminating at the point (5; 7 being the inner wall of the bunkers.

The bunkers, or eon'n mrtments, herein shown are utilized for the joint purpose of transportation and usage in transit; they constitute the depository of the coal used for the furnaces on the ship.

In carrying my invention into effect, I dcsire, as before stated, to remove all the free oxygen so far as possible from the bunkers, or compartments, where the fuel may be stored; and I show in the drawings hcreln ways of accomplishing this purpose.

Referring to Fig. 1, I show at S a battery of furnaces arranged in tandem and I purpose drawing off from the various bunkers 2, from time to time, such fuel as is necessary for the said furnaces and introducing the fuel by a forced draft into the tire box 9. This may be accomplished in different ways and I do not limit myself to any particular means to carry this phase of my apparatus into effect.

At 10 I show a pipe connected to horizontal pipes 11, having branch pipes 12, the latter entering the tops of the compartments or luinkers. The lower end of the pipe 10 is connected with horizontal pipe 13, the latter constituting the intake of pumps 15. Discharge pipes let lead from pumps 15 to fire box 9. \Vhen these pumps are set into operation by any suitable means (not shown) the effect will be that the air in the upper part of the bunkers, or compartments 2, will be drawn off and forced by means of the said pumps into the fire boxes 9. In the first place by exhausting the air from the bunkers, or compartments, I create partial vacuum therein, and so reduce the amount of free oxygen that spontaneous combustion is rendered impossible.

lVhen the air has been exhausted from the bunkers, the cocks 16 can be closed and the cooks 17 can be opened, whereupon the air necessary for creating the forced draft by virtue of the pumps 15 can enter through the pipes 18, and from thence into the pipes 10; and so on to the pumps; in operation however I preferably keep cocks 16 slightly open so that at all times the efficiency of the vacuum is maintained. It will be seen that I provide alternative sources for the air to be used for the'forced draft, and after the air Has been exhausted from the bunkers, or compartments, I can draw the necessary amount from the outside air without stopping the operation of the apparatus through the manipulation of the parts just described.

I prefer in the employment of my method to introduce the powdered coal into the bunkers, or compartments, through the opening 3, in a wet, or moistened, condition. This envelop of moisture is in itself an insurance of safety as it decreases the possibility of spontaneous, or accidental comlmstion, and I may, and in some cases do, utilize this same principle after the fuel has been introduced into the bunkers, or. compartments, by directing either live or exhaust steam therein. Sucha device is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

At 19 is a pipe receiving live or exhaust steam from any suitable source, and leading off from this pipe 19 are branch pipes 20 terminating in coils 21, which may be either just inside or just outside or the bottom bunkers. Stop cocks 22 can regulate or cut oil the supply of steam to the coils; and at 23 I sh w vertical pipes which form the terminal oit'the coils and which extend upward in the bunkers and terminate at'a point just inside of the covers.

The coal is withdrawn atthe lower terminals of the bunkers through pipes 24, and

the coils 21 can be utilized for heatingthe lower terminals of the bunkers and driving: off the moisture from the coal, it anystill exists, as it is desirable to withdraw the coal for immediate consumption in a fairly dry condition and the steam passing out of the coils can enter the tops of the bunkers through the terminal pipes and serve to keep the upper portion or body of the coal in a partially moist condition.

It the supply of steam permitted to How through. the coils 21 and then through the pipe 23 into the upper part of: the bunkers, 2, is shut off, a condensation will gradually ensue and this will also tend to create a vacuum, or a partial vacuum, If the steam is entering any particular bunker and the pumps, 15, are not drawing on that particular one, any tendency to an accumulation of steam in the bunkers can be obviated by a satety valve, 25.

In the form shown in 1 and 2, the powdered fuel is withdrawn from the bot tom the bunkers through the pipes 2%. Upon opening the cocks, 26, the :fuel will flow out and deposit itself upon the traveling belts 27. These'belts are mounted upon drums, 28, and travel in the direction oi? the arrow. The air intake pipe 13 is provided with an opening 29, and said open ing together with the discharge opening of pipe 24, and the belts 27 are inclosed by a casing 30. hileans are provided for remov mg the coal from the belts 27; for this purpose I employ the plates 31 set at an angle within the casing 30, which, as the coal moves along, direct it onto an inclined plate 32, from which it slides into openings 29 in pipe 13 and is drawn by pumps 15 and forced with the accompanying air into the fire boxes.

The form shown in Figsl and 2 is desirable and feasible in some steamships and particularly in naval vessels Where, in many instances, the bunkers are arranged upon the sides. In other steamships the bunkers are arranged entirely in the lowermost hold, and l have adapted. my invention to vessels of this construction also.

In Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, l have shown the design and arrangement of bunkers and furnaces as employed 'by the Cunard Line and notably in the Uompagnia and its sister ship. In these ships the coal is carried in the lowermost hold and it is necessary to draw it up and out of these compartments and introduce it the same 'as I have shown it in connection with the other form, or arrangement.

At the bottom of the bunkers, 2, I place a worm screw, 33, which may be operated from any suitable source and which when i the coal forward and deposits it-on the belts 23, conveying it to the central chamber 35, into which there is. directed a series of buckets 86 mounted on the belt and adapted to seize the fuel and carry it upwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, and deposit it in a centrallylocated hopper 38. This hopper terminates at its lower end in branches 39 which are adapted to deposit the fuel on the belts 40: and from this point on the operation of the device is the same as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In both cases I have illustrated my novel method for transporting and utilizing fuel.

In employing my invention I preferably use the bunkers in succession and permit those "from which the fuel is not being withdrawn to remain. intact and undisturbed with the understanding that 1 preferably use continuousmeans for maintaining the bunkers free from the presence of oxygen.

The steam employed for preheating the coal about to be withdrawn from any bunker for use can be exhaust steam from any of the engines, or it can belive steam if preferred.

/Vhere strain has been introduced in any manner into the bunker, it can, if desired, be permitted to condense and this condensation will result in a vacuum, or partial vacuum.

In these methods and processes it is to be understood that the acts are cooperative in their nature, that is to say, the gases and the coal are Withdrawn by cooperating instrumentalities through separate channels turning draws 

